State Rep. Alicia St. Germaine, R-Harrison Township, has introduced a new legislative plan to protect Michigan’s waterways and increase accountability between counties following repeated partially treated sewage overflow, and raw sewage discharge from Oakland County into Macomb County waterways.

The action follows a letter sent by Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), raising concerns about the permit for the George W. Kuhn Retention Basin, currently under EGLE review. The permit is facing scrutiny after multiple incidents involving the release of untreated sewage into the Red Run Drain, which flows through the Clinton River and into Lake St. Clair. On April 3 alone, 1.2 million gallons of raw sewage, containing sanitary wipes, tampons, and condoms, were discharged into the waterway.

“We have had enough,” said St. Germaine. “This is not a new issue, and it’s unacceptable that it continues to endanger our environment and our residents. Clean water should not be a controversial demand. EGLE must act quickly to stop this pollution before it worsens, and Oakland County’s failure to notify Macomb officials is a serious breach of public trust. After visiting the Red Run Drain, I was deeply disturbed by what I saw. It was gross to witness the amount of contaminated water, and it was reminder for how important a solution to this issue is.”

In response, Reps. St. Germaine, Ron Robinson and Jay DeBoyer introduced a legislative package aimed at improving transparency, strengthening notification requirements, and penalizing irresponsible discharges. Key provisions of the package include:

• Inter-county approval: Discharge permit applications must include proof of approval via resolution from the board of commissioners in impacted, neighboring counties. If permission is not granted, EGLE must deny the permit.
• Advance notification: Counties planning to discharge sewer overflow into neighboring jurisdictions must notify the affected county as soon as possible, and no later than 24 hours before the expected discharge.
• Penalties for violations:
  • A $500,000 fine for failure to notify or for proceeding without permission.
  • A $5 million fine—or $0.20 per gallon, whichever is greater—for discharges exceeding contamination limits set by the state.

“It is common courtesy to notify neighboring communities if their drinking water is at risk,” said St. Germaine. “The people of Macomb County deserve transparency and protection. Oakland County cannot be allowed to operate without regard for the impact its decisions have on others.”

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VIDEO INFORMATION: Rep. St. Germaine visited the Red Run Drain to witness the contaminated waterway.